Stephen Decatur
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LESSONS FROM STEPHEN DECATUR BY RICHARD H. WAGNER (Originally published in The Log, Navy League of the United States, New York Council, Fall 2005) On 14 September, the Council hosted the competency so often associated with that luncheon for the presentation of the mastery." Thus, "Spencer Tucker, as a nineteenth annual Theodore and military historian, has contributed Franklin D. Roosevelt Naval History substantially to the education of that Prize. The prize is given in conjunction officer corps." with the Theodore Roosevelt Association Accepting the prize, Professor and the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Tucker said that Stephen Decatur "was Society and is awarded based upon so important, second only to John Paul originality, literature and style, Jones, as a leader, as a model, as the readability, content, research, and the greatest hero of the American sailing book as a physical object. Professor navy." Spencer Tucker was honored at this year's luncheon for his work: Stephen ecatur joined the Navy in 1798 Decatur: A Life Most Bold and Daring. and served as a midshipman on In his introductory remarks, Dthe frigate USS UNITED Brigadier General Charles "Casey" STATES during the undeclared war with Brower, U.S. Army (ret.), Academic France. However, he first came to Dean of the Virginia Military Institute, prominence as a lieutenant during the noted the importance of works on first war against the Barbary pirates military history in educating today's (sometimes referred to as the "Tripolitan officers. "The officers of today's armed War" 1801-1805) in the first years of the services are the best educated, the most Nineteenth Century. In command of the intellectual officer corps in our history. schooner USS ENTERPRISE, Decatur They are avid readers of military captured an enemy ketch that had once history. They read not the military been used as a transport in Napoleon's history of drums and bugles that so Egyptian campaign. Subsequently, on dominated the field previously. They 16 February 1804, he used that ship, devour instead the newer military renamed USS INTREPID, for a night history that has emerged over the last raid into Tripoli harbor where he three decades or so. Military history boarded and burnt the frigate USS that recognizes war is the most complex PHILADELPHIA, which had been and encompassing of all human captured by the pirates after running endeavors." They read such works aground. The raid brought international because they "recognize their duties as notoriety with Admiral Lord Horatio officers to be masters of their profession. Nelson commenting that the raid was They recognize that that mastery extends "the most daring act of the age." beyond the technical and tactical Eight years later, at the beginning 1 Copyright Richard H. Wagner 2005 All rights reserved. This article may only be used with permission. of the War of 1812, Decatur was a U.S. ports. In one of the last battles of captain in command of UNITED the war, Decatur was a commodore in STATES Cruising 600 miles west of command of a small squadron that was the Canary Islands, Decatur sighted the blockaded in New York harbor. His British frigate HMS MACEDONIAN flagship, USS PRESIDENT, had been approaching. The UNITED STATES designed to be the fastest and strongest had superior firepower but U.S. frigate, capable of out running any MACEDONIAN had superior speed. ship that could sink her and capable of Accordingly, Decatur engaged in a series sinking any ship that could catch her. of maneuvers designed to bring the two Decatur's orders were to break out of ships on parallel courses with UNITED New York and take PRESIDENT to the STATES slightly ahead of Indian Ocean where she was to fall on MACEDONIAN. Taking advantage of British trade with the subcontinent. A the greater range of his guns, Decatur strong British squadron lay off New then began firing diagonal broadsides at York but in January 1815, a winter storm MACEDONIAN. This damaged blew it off station. Decatur saw an MACEDONIAN so that she lost her opportunity and proceeded to take advantage in speed. Decatur then PRESIDENT to sea. brought UNITED STATES across Unfortunately, as PRESIDENT MACEDONIAN's bow, firing a was attempting to leave, she became devastating, raking broadside. hung up on a sand bar off Sandy Hook. Decatur could have pounded his For hours, the ship's bottom thumped adversary into a hulk. However, he against the sand. Finally, tides and the knew it would be better if he could crew's efforts at lightening the ship capture MACEDONIAN and add her to allowed PRESIDENT to sail over the the pitifully small number of ships that bar. Although her keel was badly then comprised the U.S. Navy. damaged, the tides and the winds Accordingly, after firing some additional prevented Decatur from returning to salvos from off MACEDONIAN’s New York. Instead, he took the ship quarter, Decatur circled northeast along the coast of Long Island. MACEDONIAN without firing, The next day, PRESIDENT was demonstrating that he could cross the sighted by the British squadron, which British ship's bow or stern at will. gave chase. The British had a small ship Rather than suffer another raking of the line, three frigates, and a brig. broadside, the British surrendered. The With PRESIDENT's damaged keel, the two ships lay along side each other for British were able to slowly gain on the two weeks while repairs were made to American and PRESIDENT came under enable the prize to sail to New York. fire from the bow chasers of the leading MACEDONIAN became a U.S. ship, frigate. With his damage mounting and American morale received a much escape unlikely, Decatur decided to turn needed boost, and Decatur was again a on his foes. At first, he planned to board national hero. the leading frigate, HMS ENDYMION, As the war progressed, Britain's capture her, and use her as a vehicle for superiority in number of ships allowed it escape. When that maneuver failed, he to impose a tight blockade all but closing used PRESIDENT's superior firepower 2 Copyright Richard H. Wagner 2005 All rights reserved. This article may only be used with permission. to knock ENDYMION out of action. indifference to fatigue. He led by But, Decatur's luck had run out. The example rather than by threat or remaining British frigates had come up intimidation . He used the lash and the ship of the line would join them sparingly . He placed the interests of shortly. Out gunned and already his men first and, as a result, they severely damaged, Decatur surrendered followed him anywhere. They loved after another short attempt at escape. him. Many of the crews followed him After the war, Decatur was given from ship to ship. Also, he understood command of a squadron that was sent to the need for intensive training. Finally, the Mediterranean to suppress the and not inconsiderably, fortune smiled Barbary pirates who were once again upon him." attacking U.S. merchant ships and enslaving American citizens. (The The biographical material on Decatur Algerine War 1815-1816). Decatur contained in this article was derived engaged the pirate corsairs and forced from a number of sources. Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, to cease their attacks on American ships and to surrender all the Christians that they held in captivity. Returning home, Decatur was made a member of the Board of Navy Commissioners. However, not everyone was glad to see the strong-willed sailor. In 1807, the frigate USS CHESAPEAKE, under the command of James Barron, was fired upon by the British ship of the line HMS LEOPARD when Barron refused to allow the British to search the CHESAPEAKE for British deserters. Decatur was a member of the court martial that found Barron guilty of failing to prepare his ship for action in time. Barron resented the verdict and the sentence, which had effectively ended his naval career. In 1820, the two men dueled and Barron fatally wounded Decatur. Professor Tucker said: "What appealed to me about Decatur as I researched the book was his leadership and the leadership traits that I discovered. He, of course, had a tremendous drive to excel, as did most of the officers of the young American navy. He was blessed with great endurance and 3 Copyright Richard H. Wagner 2005 All rights reserved. This article may only be used with permission. .